September 26, 2016

Pioneers Beat SVSU 3-1

Fifth straight victory improves team to 7-2 on season

Box Score

University Center, MI – The Delta Women's soccer team completed the middle leg of a grueling three game stretch on Sunday with a 3-1 victory against the Saginaw Valley State University women's club team on the campus of SVSU.  With the win, the Pioneers are now 7-2 on the season and have won five straight games in a row.

With the recent string of rain, the grass length of the field would pose a challenge for both teams as passes on the ground were dying much quicker than normal.  By switching tactics and using shot passes, the Pioneers were able to adjust and change the point of attack. 

Lexi Traver put DC on the board first as she took a slotted ball across the goal and put a controlled shot pass the keeper at the thirty-two-minute mark of the first half.    That's where the score would remain heading in to the half. 

SVSU tied the score in the 55th minute when a long ball was dropped over the top of the defense which created a great scoring opportunity for the Cardinals top attacking player.   Without panicking, Delta would continue the controlled play to create numerous scoring opportunities and finally hit the jackpot in the 64th minute.  Aleisha Jones slotted a ball through to Gabrielle Kingsbury who beat the keeper with a well placed shot to give the Pioneers a 2-1 lead.  It was Kingsbury's first goal of the season. 

From there, Delta played keep away from the Cardinal attacking unit and spread the field to continue to run the clock.  In the final minutes of the game, they would seal the victory when Kingsbury would make an excellent cross into the middle of the goal area and Taylor Farrand would collect the ball and drive it past the keeper.
 

"This was a great win for us, because we learned to concentrate on our possession game and conserve energy while maintaining a high level of play," said head coach Paul Stenglein.

"The depth of our bench is becoming a huge advantage for us now.  All of our girls are becoming quite comfortable playing in very tough situations."
 

"I'm really pleased at the effort and continual growth of this team.  We have so much more to learn, and I'm convinced we will use this time leading up to the tournament to be fully prepared."

Delta finishes the final game of their three games in four days gauntlet tomorrow with a home game against the Alma College JV.  Game time is scheduled for 4pm.